Glossary of Fuller Center
Terms & Concepts
BIBLICAL ECONOMICS—Biblical economics is used interchangeably with a similar,
but broader term, the “economics of Jesus.” These terms are defined in Millard Fuller’s
book, Love in the Mortar Joints. “Biblical economics,” based on Exodus 22:25, is
summarized in that book as follows: “In our dealings with poor people, we are to charge
no interest and seek no profit.”
CHRISTIAN PARTNERSHIP—Christian partnership is twofold: we are in partnership
with God and with other Christians and others who have a heart to help; and we are a
people-to-people partnership that, following Christ’s example, brings people together
regardless of race, nationality, religion or socioeconomic status.
ECONOMICS OF JESUS— while sometimes used interchangeably with “Biblical
economics,” the term “economics of Jesus” encompasses a broader perspective and refers
to several spiritual principles in Fuller Center work. Millard Fuller’s book, Love in the
Mortar Joints, dedicates a chapter to the term and explains that it embraces five
principles:
1. Christ can multiply the minuscule to accomplish the gigantic, as in the feeding
of the multitudes. This teaches us that when we move out in faith God moves
too, and our small supplies are miraculously multiplied to fill the need.
2. We do not place value on profit or interest but emphasize meeting human
need. Christ will show us how to face the challenges of inflation, indifference,
opposition or lack of resources.
3. Christ expects us to immediately put the resources we receive into meeting
human needs and not hoard or stash them away.
4. Every human life, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is priceless.
5. We acknowledge that the needs of people are paramount and the response to
those needs is not connected in any way with people’s usefulness or
productivity. “Grace and love abound for all.”
FUND FOR HUMANITY—a local, revolving Fund for Humanity exists at each project,
with the fund’s money coming from Fuller Center house payments, contributions from
individuals and organizations, no-interest loans, and income from fund-raising projects.
The monies in the Fund for Humanity are used to build and renovate more houses.
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SIMPLE, DECENT HOUSES—the houses we build or renovate are simple, decent and
affordable, meaning that we build houses that are basic in design and construction and
without frills. The houses are built to last without imposing undue maintenance costs on
the buyer.
SWEAT EQUITY—is the unpaid labor invested by homeowner partners in the Fuller
Center ministry. These hours are a requirement of homeownership. Sweat equity reduces
the cost of the house and increases the personal stake family members have in their home.
It fosters partnership with other volunteers and donors; is a key principle of The Fuller
Center; and is important in building partnerships across economic, racial and religious
divisions. The number of sweat-equity hours required of homeowners varies locally, but
is usually between 300 and 500 hours.
THEOLOGY OF THE HAMMER— Millard Fuller explains the term in his books No
More Shacks! and Theology of the Hammer.
“This simply means that as Christians we will agree on the use of the hammer as
an instrument to manifest God’s love. We may disagree on all sorts of other
things—baptism, communion, what night to have prayer meeting, and how the
preacher should dress—but we can agree on the imperative of the gospel to serve
others in the name of the Lord.” (No More Shacks!, p. 127.)
GREATER BLESSING PROGRAM—when repair or rehabilitation work is done at a
relatively low cost the Greater Blessing Program may be more appropriate than writing a
mortgage to repay the cost of the work. With the Greater Blessing Program the cost of
the repair is “repaid” as a donation in pre-agreed monthly installments. The beneficiary
family is provided with a Greater Blessings Box containing pre-addressed envelopes
equal to the number of months that the family needs to “repay” the cost of repair. With
each donation the family receives the blessing of giving. There is no note or lien with
this plan and the “repayment” depends on the good will of the beneficiary family. The
gifts are dedicated to the rehabilitation or construction of other houses.
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